Get savvy about your heart this February

February is Heart Month, so what better time to get clued up on good heart health. From the foods we eat to the exercise we partake in, there are many things we can do to ensure our ticker keeps on ticking. So whether you’ll be giving your heart away this upcoming Valentine's Day (14Feb17) or cherishing it all for yourself, make sure it’s in tip top condition.

Heart healthy foods

A great diet isn’t just good for your waistline, but your heart too. Certain foods can help stave off cardiovascular disease, lower your cholesterol and keep your blood pressure in check. On a daily basis you should be tucking into oily fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring and trout, all of which have a high omega-3 content. Nuts, berries, flaxseeds and oatmeal are other great food choices for your heart, as are dark meats, dark green veggies, and yellow and orange vegetables and fruits.

And if you’re looking for a treat to add to all this healthy food, dark chocolate and red wine (in small doses!) also help the heart out.

Get on your bike

A 2016 study by a team in Denmark found people who spend 90 minutes cycling a week are 24 per cent less likely to develop angina or have a heart attack. It was also discovered earlier this year (17) that a 30 minute treadmill workout remodel your heart tissue. And regular exercise in general can reduces your risk of developing heart disease, help prevent existing heart disease from getting worse and have a positive impact on cholesterol.

Heart no-nos

Previous research has found yo-yo dieting can increase the risk of heart disease in women, and that putting on weight as a teenage can lead to a heart attack or stroke later in life. Environmental noise exposure can also increase your risk of heart attack and stroke and people who suffer with health anxiety are more likely to develop heart disease. Smoking is bad news for the heart too, along with too much red meat and fatty foods.